Tempted

Chapter 25

Chris

I had just got off the phone with one of my home boys I met out here. Michael cool as fuck, and he invited me to one of his parties tonight.

I wouldn't mind going since Nia not talking to me, we not together so I don't see the point in telling her my whereabouts. I tried everything in my power to apologize to her for my mama's disrespect, but she's just not buying it. Nia thinks I had something to do with it. Why would I set her up like that? If only she knew how I really felt about her.

I sat in my car waiting for my mom to pull up at In N out burger. She called me this morning asking me to meet her here, so we could talk.

I turned around as I heard a knock on my window. I nervously bit my bottom lip as I climbed out the car to hug my mama.

"Hey baby." She kissed my forehead.

"Sup ma." I locked my car up and followed her in.

It took us no time to get seated and the waitress quickly took our order. Fast service, just how I like it.

"So what's up with you wanting me to meet you here mama?" I broke the silence.

My mom took a sip of her coke. "Oh baby I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I was angry and I was out of line." She grabbed my hand.

"I know Ma, but you shouldn't be apologizing to me. Nia is the person you should be apologizing too."

My mom face turned red, which means she's angry. I wonder why she have so much hate towards Nia, she ain't do anything to her. The hell she don't even know her like I do.

"Christopher, I am not apologizing to her. I came here to talk about us not her." My mama tried to calmly say.

"What is it about her that you don't like? She's in the picture now you might as well get used to it."

"Chris you know how I feel about you dating older women."

I scrunched my face up in confusion not buying her lies, something was off and I was going to get to the bottom of it.

"The Devil is a lie, Kassidy was older then me and you loved her."

"Yeah that was different honey. She...she was..um." My mom cleared her throat.

"She was what?" I furrowed an eyebrow.

"She was sweet." My mom blurted out.

"Nia is sweet also, but you wouldn't know since you never gave her a chance."

"Enough about her. How's Kayla? I miss her." My mom tried to change the subject.

"I'm not about to go back and forth with you ma. What the hell is up with you?" I started go become agitated with her.

My mom jaws dropped. I know she was shocked by the way I was talking to her. She can't blame me, I get my short temper from her.

"How dare you talk to me like that boy." She snapped.

"We're done here. If you can't tell me what's really up, then I don't want to hear the rest of your bullshit. Save it." I got up from the table.

"Chris...Christopher." My mama called after me.

I ignored her and quickly walked out to my car. I slammed the car door and drove off.

Mario

I had pulled up to Nia and I old place which was now hers.

"You aren't going to come in daddy?" Ari asked as she swung her overnight bag over her shoulder.

"I'll be in just a sec baby girl."

Ari nodded her head as she excitedly ran over towards the door knocking on it.

I watched her to make sure she got in safely and Nia waved at me. I smiled as I waved back.

Once I seen the door close I answered my ringing phone, tired of Joyce calling me.

"What do you want?" I answered.

"About time you answered me baby. I miss you."

"Joyce, I thought we already made this clear. What we had is over."

"I'm in town. I want to see you." She changed the subject.

"You're in what?" I damn near almost dropped my phone.

"You heard me Mario. Don't play dumb baby boy." She laughed. "Can you meet me somewhere?"

"For closure, I'd be glad too. Text me the address." I ended the phone call.

I got out the car and headed inside the house. Ariana was holding her baby sister.

A sense of jealously hit me since it wasn't my baby. It felt awkward being in a house Nia and I once built memories in.

"Hey rio." Nia limped over towards me and hugged me.

"What's up Nia?" I grabbed her. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Nia body tensed up, I guess from me touching her. I quickly removed my hand.

"Sorry about that." I apologized.

"It's completely fine." She waved her hands. "Stop acting like a stranger you're welcomed to have a seat." She chuckled.

My phone buzzed. It was Joyce, she sent me the address of a hotel she wanted me to meet her at.

"You know what it's cool. I didn't plan on staying long. I just came in to speak." I forced a smile.

"Oh okay. Well I'll see you Sunday when you pick Ari up." We shared a hug.

"Alright. See you baby girl, call me." I pecked her forehead. "Love you."

"Bye daddy, I love you too." She smiled as she played with her baby sister.

I waved as I walked out the door. I put the address in my GPS as I was walking towards the car.

"Mario." Nia called after me.

I damn near almost dropped my phone, she scared the shit out of me.

"Yeah?" I hollered back.

"Are you okay? You seem a little off." She stood in the doorway.

"I'm fine, just tired. You know how I get when I don't get much sleep." I faked a laugh.

"Definitely." Nia laughed.

I found it sweet that she still even cared about me. Everytime I was near her the guilt started to eat me alive.

25 minutes later I pulled up to the hotel Joyce wanted me to meet her at.

I parked my whip and got out as I looked for the number of the room she was staying in.

Once I found 103 I knocked on the door. Joyce quickly answered the door and pulled me in.

"Oh I missed you." She smashed her lips into mines.

I quickly pushed her off of me. "What are you doing?" I took my shirt and wiped my lips.

"What I always do when I see you." Joyce bit her bottom lip. "Damn it's been a minute since I've seen your sexy ass."

"Joyce I came here for closure, not to fuck."

"You must be back with her?" Joyce folded her arms.

"No we're getting a divorce."

"I knew you would do that for me baby." She wrapped her arms around me.

"Joyce I'm not doing it for you, Nia and I are doing this for ourselves."

"Oh really, well Nia and I had a little encounter the other day. She was over my son's house."

"Who's your son? You didn't hurt her did you?"

"Oh Mario, you didn't know Christopher is my son."

My jaws dropped as I backed away. "He's your what?"